The Workers’ Health and Work Safety Observatory (ISIG) protested the court ruling in the case of 13-year-old Ahmet Yıldız, who lost his life after being crushed by a press machine at a lumber workshop in Adana. The employer’s five-year prison sentence was reduced due to 'good behavior' and converted into a monetary fine.

ISIG emphasized that this ruling adds yet another link to the chain of impunity in cases of child labor deaths and reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the fight against these preventable tragedies.

ISIG stated that every year in Turkey, 60 to 70 children lose their lives while working in agriculture, industry, construction, and street labor, calling for urgent measures to prevent child exploitation.

The key demands outlined in the statement were as follows: 

- Employment of children under the age of 15 must be completely prohibited.

- Inspections must be intensified, and employers hiring child laborers must face severe penalties.

- Education must be free, with a curriculum grounded in science and real-world applications.

- Vocational training must be designed in a way that aligns with child development.

- Children’s living environments must be free from gangs and drugs and enriched with sports, arts, and cultural activities.